Artificial reef structure

ABSTRACT

An artificial reef structure is provided with units each including an intermediate artificial kelp; an upper buoyant body including a buoyant drum at one side and having snap members, and a first pressing plate at an other side and having first and second holes wherein the snap members are inserted through the artificial kelp and the second holes to fasten the buoyant drum, the artificial kelp, and the first pressing plate together; and a lower support including a second pressing plate at one side and having second snap members and a bottom hook, and a third pressing plate at an other side and having third and fourth holes wherein the second snap members are inserted through the intermediate artificial kelp and the fourth holes to fasten the second pressing plate, the artificial kelp, and the third pressing plate together; and an anchor including rings each secured to the hook.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to artificial reef structures and more particularly to an artificial reef structure having an upper buoyant drum and a fabric interconnecting the buoyant drum and a lower support.

2. Description of Related Art

A conventional artificial reef structure comprises an axle rod supporting a plurality of buoyant reef bodies rotatably mounted on the axle rod. The axle rod and buoyant sections are suspended at a desired level above a water bottom by anchors attached to anchor lines further attached to the axle rod. Distally projecting rods are mounted on the buoyant reef bodies. The distally projecting rods are mounted in a manner such that the buoyant reef bodies rotate independently of each other on the axle rod without interference from the distally projecting rods.

While it has some utility, improvements in artificial reef structures are desired, and these improvements are provided by the invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore one object of the invention to provide an artificial reef structure comprising a plurality of units each comprising an intermediate artificial kelp formed of fabric; an upper buoyant body including a buoyant drum at one side and having a plurality of first snap members, and a first pressing plate at an other side and having a plurality of first holes at both ends respectively, and a plurality of second holes between the first holes wherein the first snap members are inserted through an upper end of the intermediate artificial kelp and the second holes to fasten the buoyant drum, the intermediate artificial kelp, and the first pressing plate together; and a lower support including a second pressing plate at one side and having a plurality of second snap members and a bottom hook, and a third pressing plate at an other side and having a plurality of third holes at both ends respectively, and a plurality of fourth holes between the third holes wherein the second snap members are inserted through a lower end of the intermediate artificial kelp and the fourth holes to fasten the second pressing plate, the intermediate artificial kelp, and the third pressing plate together; at least one line each having one end connected to the first hole of the first pressing plate of the upper buoyant body at one end of one unit and an other end connected to the first hole of the first pressing plate of the upper buoyant body at an other end of an adjacent unit; and an anchor comprising a plurality of rings each secured to the hook of the second pressing plate of the lower support of one unit.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded, sectional view of an upper buoyant body of an artificial reef structure according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the assembled upper buoyant body;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the upper buoyant body assembled with a second pressing plate in another configuration;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the upper buoyant body assembled with a second pressing plate in still another configuration where the second pressing plate has a hook;

FIG. 5 is an exploded, sectional view of a lower support of the artificial reef structure according to the invention;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the assembled lower support;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an anchor of the artificial reef structure according to the invention;

FIG. 8 is a side elevation of the artificial reef structure according to the invention prior to sinking on the sea floor;

FIG. 9 is a side elevation of the artificial reef structure according to the invention sunk onto the sea floor with the upper arrangement being fully extended, the buoyant body being enlarged in and the support being enlarged;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the artificial reef structure of FIG. 9 with the secured hook and the ring and adjacent components being enlarged;

FIG. 11 is a side elevation showing another configuration of an anchor having a top ring secured to the hook, the anchor being a line having a plurality of spaced, inverted conic members buried in a sea floor for anchoring;

FIG. 12 is an exploded, perspective view of the upper arrangement shown in FIG. 11, the upper arrangement being implement as one including a plain woven fabric in a first preferred embodiment of the invention and the buoyant body being exploded;

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 12 but the support being exploded;

FIG. 14 is a rear view of the upper arrangement shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 15 is a front view of the upper arrangement shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the upper arrangement shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 17 is a view similar to FIG. 16 but viewed from the front end and showing sands flowing onto the plain woven fabric and dropping to a lower portion of the upper arrangement;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the upper arrangement implement as one including a plain woven meshed fabric in a second preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the upper arrangement implement as one including a ring woven meshed fabric in a third preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of the upper arrangement implement as one including a grid woven meshed fabric in a fourth preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 21 is a perspective view showing three anchors each having three rows each having three upper arrangements, any two adjacent upper arrangements being connected together by a line; and

FIG. 22 is another perspective view of FIG. 21.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 22, an artificial reef structure in accordance with the invention comprises the following components as discussed in detail below.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an upper buoyant body K1 comprises a buoyant drum 1 at one side and having a plurality of snap members 11, a first pressing plate 2 at the other side and having a plurality of first holes 21 at both ends respectively, and a plurality of second holes 22 between the first holes 21, and an intermediate artificial kelp F. The snap members 11 are inserted through the artificial kelp F and the second holes 22 to fasten the buoyant drum 1, the artificial kelp F, and the first pressing plate 2 together.

As shown in FIG. 3, the upper buoyant body is assembled with a second pressing plate 4 in another configuration.

As shown in FIG. 4, the upper buoyant body is assembled with a second pressing plate 4 in still another configuration. The second pressing plate 4 has a hook 5.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a lower support K2 comprises a second pressing plate 4 at one side and having a plurality of snap members 41 and a bottom hook 5, a third pressing plate 3 at the other side and having a plurality of third holes 31 at both ends respectively, and a plurality of fourth holes 32 between the third holes 31, and an intermediate artificial kelp F. The snap members 41 are inserted through the artificial kelp F and the fourth holes 32 to fasten the second pressing plate 4, the artificial kelp F, and the third pressing plate 3 together.

As shown in FIG. 7, an anchor 6 is, for example, a concrete block or the like. The anchor 6 comprises a plurality of rings 7 on a top arranged in a specific pattern. The rings 7 are made of metal or plastics.

As shown in FIG. 8, it shows the artificial reef structure according to the invention prior to sinking onto the sea floor. The ring 7 of the anchor 6 is put onto the hook. An upper arrangement C1 is comprised of the buoyant body K1, the artificial kelp F, and the support K2. A substantial portion of the upper arrangement C1 is wound around the buoyant body K1.

As shown in FIG. 9, it shows an artificial reef structure 1′ according to the invention has been sunk onto the sea floor with the upper arrangement C1 being fully extended.

As shown in FIG. 10, it shows the hook 5 and the ring 7 and adjacent components in FIG. 9 being enlarged.

As shown in FIG. 11, it shows another configuration of an anchor G having a top ring 8 secured to the hook 5. The anchor G is a line having a plurality of spaced, inverted conic members buried in a sea floor H for anchoring.

As shown in FIGS. 12 to 16, the upper arrangement is implemented as one including a plain woven fabric F1 in a first preferred embodiment of the invention.

As shown in FIG. 17, it shows a plurality of sands G1, G2, G3, G4, G5, . . . and Gn flowing onto the plain woven fabric F1 and dropping to a lower portion of the plain woven fabric F1 and the support.

As shown in FIG. 18, it shows an upper arrangement C2 implemented as one including a plain woven meshed fabric F2 in a second preferred embodiment of the invention.

As shown in FIG. 19, it shows an upper arrangement C3 implemented as one including a ring woven meshed fabric F3 in a third preferred embodiment of the invention.

As shown in FIG. 20, it shows an upper arrangement C4 implemented as one including a grid woven meshed fabric F4 in a fourth preferred embodiment of the invention.

As shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, it shows three artificial reef structures 1′, 2′, and 3′ each has an anchor 6. Each anchor 6 has three rows each having three upper arrangements C1. Any two adjacent upper arrangements C1 being connected together by connecting one end of a line L to the first hole 2′1 and the other end of the line L to the first hole 21.

Preferably, specifications of the artificial kelp F are that length×width (3 m×15 cm), hole size (6 mm×9 mm), more than 40,000 loops per square meter, and loop aperture greater than 0.5 mm.

Preferably, the buoyant drum 1 has a length of 10 cm, a diameter of 1 inch, and is full of air.

Preferably, each of the first, second, and third pressing plates 2, 3, and 4 has a length of 15 cm, a width of 15 cm, and a thickness of 20 mm.

While the invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modifications within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. 

1. An artificial reef structure comprising: a plurality of units each comprising: an intermediate artificial kelp; an upper buoyant body including a buoyant drum at one side and having a plurality of first snap members, and a first pressing plate at an another side and having a plurality of first holes at top and bottom ends respectively, and a plurality of second holes between the first holes wherein the first snap members are inserted through an upper end of the intermediate artificial kelp and the second holes to fasten the buoyant drum, the intermediate artificial kelp, and the first pressing plate together; and a lower support including a second pressing plate at one side and having a plurality of second snap members, and a third pressing plate at an another side and having a plurality of third holes at top and bottom ends respectively, and a plurality of fourth holes between the third holes wherein the second snap members are inserted through a lower end of the intermediate artificial kelp and the fourth holes to fasten the second pressing plate, the intermediate artificial kelp, and the third pressing plate together; at least one line each having one end connected to the first hole of the first pressing plate of the upper buoyant body at one end of one of the plurality of units and an another end connected to the first hole of the first pressing plate of the upper buoyant body at an another end of an adjacent unit; and an anchor secured to the second pressing plate of the lower support of one of the plurality of units. 